84-Year-Old Woman Refuses To Move Out Of Her Home So Shopping Mall Has To Build Around Her

We’re all familiar with the mantra of “there’s no place like home” as Dorothy famously recites in the classic film The Wizard of Oz. Well, one woman in Seattle, Washington has remained true to that, and has reminded many of another movie with her actions.

Edith Macefield lived in Seattle, Washington, and she absolutely adored her home. Like many, she thought her home and the memories it contained were priceless. Just like in the movie Up, a greedy developer put Edith’s love of her home to the test, and she proved that she could not be bought at any price.

Edith’s home was located in what was seen as a perfect spot for a new mall, and all of Edith’s neighbors had taken up the development firm on their offer. She was given countless offers to sell her home, each one more rewarding than the last.

But the woman never considered parting with her home, no matter how much money she was offered. In 2006, this stubborn woman refused a huge offer of a million dollars for her little home.

 

And why, you might ask? Well, apart from having a lifetime of treasured memories at the property, she also didn’t want the hassle. Packing up and moving house is hugely stressful for anybody, let alone a senior citizen who isn’t as mobile as they used to be.

Edith stayed true to her wishes, and her love of her home inspired many around the world. The home became symbolic in the ever-changing city – the message being that not everyone and everything can be bought or sold. There is something comforting about finding a tiny bit of stability among a constant storm.

If you’re thinking that this house’s resemblance to the one in the movie Up is too accurate to be an accident, you’d be right. The house in the Pixar movie is in fact modeled after this house. So, not only did Edith get her wish to stay put, she also inspired popular culture along the way.

In 2008, the time sadly came for Edith to leave this world, at the ripe old age of 87, having lived a long and happy life.

During her lifetime, Edith attended many negotiations with the people who wished to develop her land. She developed a close relationship with Barry Martin, the construction superintendent on the project for which the developers desired Edith’s home.

When Edith died in 2008, she left her house to Barry. This might seem like a surprising twist, given how long Edith spent fighting off developers and struggling to keep her home among the chaos. One you understand Edith’s reasoning, however, this decision doesn’t seem controversial at all.

According to Barry, Edith had been concerned with keeping the house only while she was alive. She didn’t much care what happened to it after she died. As of now, the house is boarded up with a looming establishment surrounding it. The sight is quite strange, and if you didn’t know the story you would instantly wonder what had happened to leave this little property out of the grand construction.

Edith’s friend Barry would not be so callous as to bulldoze the property after she had been so kind as to leave it to him in her will. So, this begs the question – what happens next with the charming house?

Although the house is boarded up, the developers, Ballard Blocks, have suggested that it will not always remain that way. The community is excited about the prospect of refurbishing the house, and locals have done everything possible to honor the house and the story behind it.

The community had, at one time, pursued a plan to float the house on a barge to Orcas Island, but this never came to fruition. There was an effort to purchase the home through a community land trust, but this failed as well.

Recently, the building had “No Demolition Day” on Saturday, April 21, 2018. During this celebration, members of the community were encouraged to tie a balloon to the fence in order to show support. The event was a hit, and resulted in some great photographs, as seen below.

It is not entirely certain what will happen with the property in years to come. I really hope that it stays intact, and is shown some TLC – perhaps it could be a visitor attraction of some kind. Just something to honor the legacy of Edith Macefield, who sounds like a truly great woman. Rest in peace, Edith.

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